Not only is it the only Michelin-recommended market stall in Leeds, but The Owl also lays claim to being Kirkgate market's first-ever pub.
Painted all in black, it could be very easy to miss The Owl were it not for the ornate, golden bird of prey knocker on the pub and taproom’s door – and for a little red sticker in the window proudly pronouncing “Michelin’, awarded to the pub at the start of 2021.
But trust us, it’s worth seeking this place out.
First opened by fine dining stars Liz Cottam and Mark Owen in 2019, the pair behind Leeds' Michelin-rated restaurant HOME, The Owl made history in Leeds as the first pub to open inside the iconic city center market in over 150 years.
Nestled in with the traders on Fish & Game Row, it’s the only place (probably) in the city where you can pick up three melons for a quid and also treat yourself to a Michelin-recommended dining experience under one roof.
Having grown up in pubs herself, Cottam has previously said she was 'always drawn' to opening her own - but this is no ordinary pub. Whilst it brands itself as a pub and a taproom, it's so much more too: offering three different menus, spanning lunch, dinner and 'grazing'.
We opted for a spot of mid-afternoon 'grazing'. With a few pints on the side. Obviously.
As part of its pub offering The Owl works in collaboration with Leeds' Northern Monk Brewery, so you'll always be sure to find some special beers on draught here.
The collection of 'grazind tray' dishes comes out in a heavy-looking wooden tray, crammed with all sorts of delights from The Owl’s current game and fish menus.
Currently on tap is their 'Summer of Faith' - a hazy rhubarb shandy that celebrates the best of Yorkshire rhubarb whilst simultaneously being packed full of sweetness - as well as the simply titled 'Faith' pale ale, a big, juicy modern craft ale packed with tropical, citrus and pine flavours.
It all comes out in special pint glasses illustrated with a graphic of Kirkgate market and a cute little owl, a lovely touch. The Faith also worked wonderfully with our grazing tray - which, incidentally, has to be the most affordable option out of their three menus: offering a collection of small plates for just £30.
These can all currently be ordered separately, but we were feeling greedy so we went the whole hog and ordered them all in one. And wow, was it worth it.
Miniature crumpets laden with cod's roe and wild boar jam at The Owl
From miniature crumpets laden with cod's roe and wild boar jam; to baked Lindisfarne oysters and guinea fowl toast with Dale End cheddar, every single plate that came out wowed us - right down to the marmite butter and sticky, malty ale-glazed bread.
When paired with homemade mushroom ketchup, the KFR (Kentucky fried rabbit) became an absolute revelation, its dry gaminess rounded out by lashings of the creamy umami-rich sauce.
Baked Lindisfarne oysters with chef's garnish at The Owl
Our absolute star dish, though, had to be the marinaded north sea bream, served with delicate little pickled onions that had just the perfect amount of crunch.
This is pub food like you've never had it before.
We're aware that fine dining isn't for everyone and we can understand why. That said, we feel like The Owl should be for everyone - or at the very least, for everyone that eats meat (for anyone else, it's worth noting that the veggie options were slim whilst the vegan options were nonexistent).
Meat eaters, though, get stuck in. This is your spot. Surrounded by meat and fish stalls, it should be a given that that was going to be the case, really.
Find out more about The Owl and view its menus here.
Feature image - Dockstreetsigns.
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Leeds pizza shop hailed ‘exceptional’ and ‘best in the UK’ by major reviewer
A Leeds pizza takeaway has received a glowing review from popular review duo.
Edges Pizza opened up their first permanent spot in Leeds back in June this year, after making a name for themselves slinging out pizzas at multiple pop-ups across the city.
Owners Grace and Edge from Harrogate opened Edges Pizza two years ago, taking inspiration from trips to New York over the years.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Their pizzas are a love letter to the class New York slice, think thin and crispy rather than chewy and floppy. But above all else, think absolutely delicious.
And now, they've caught the attention of a major review page, with Bite Twice Food Reviews (a page with almost 300k followers) paying Edges a visit.
The food review duo of Gerry del Guercio and Paul Delany popped up in Holbeck beneath the arches to get their hands on a pizza, and the outcome is brilliant.
In the video, Bite Twice said that the pizza is 'f**cking exceptional' and up there with 'one of the best pizzas in the UK'.
Before even taking a bite, they said: "On aesthetic, I don't think anywhere in the UK is doing pizza like this".
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Then after the first bite, they go on to say: "There are very few pizzas in the UK that create this, I’m a little bit blown away".
As Londoners themselves, they go on to say that Edges is 'easily hitting with the best that we’ve got down south'.
And if that's not high praise enough, they sign off the video saying: "Leeds has got an absolute gem. I give this a stamp so hard my foot went through the pizza. Edges. Don Level."
Yorkshire-set Christmas film by Leeds director starring Richard E. Grant set to hit UK cinemas next month
Clementine Hall
A brand-new Christmas film is hitting cinemas nationwide next month - and it’s a proper Leeds success story.
Jack Spring directed his first feature film at just 19 years old and has spent the last decade carving out a career in independent film, as well as co-founding Leeds-based production company Shush Films.
His first movie, Destination: Dewsbury, was shot just down the road in - you guessed it - Dewsbury. And after moving to Leeds from Grimsby, Jack became determined to build his business from the city, putting down roots and growing his production company here.
Image: Supplied
Now, after years of working on independent projects, Jack has taken his biggest leap yet with a brand-new Christmas film, Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint.
Set in Yorkshire, Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint follows Aubrey Flint, a reclusive model soldier painter with a lifelong hatred of Christmas, who is sentenced to community service at Willow Lodge - a retirement home on the brink of closure.
Roped into helping with a chaotic production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Aubrey clashes with its interesting set of residents...
And the cast is about as star-studded as it gets, featuring Richard E. Grant, John Bradley, Celia Imrie, Adjoa Andoh, Sophia Di Martino, Adrian Rawlins and Kiell Smith-Bynoe.
Image: Supplied
The heartwarming festive comedy will hit cinemas nationwide on Friday 6 November - a huge milestone for a Leeds-based director and production company, taking a homegrown Yorkshire story to audiences across the country.
You just can't beat a proper wholesome British Christmas film, so you can best believe we'll be watching in the cinema, popcorn in hand.
Georgina Pellant -
29th July 2021 
